1. Ch. 18
THE RISE OF RUSSIA

2. Third Rome? First two “Romes:” Rome, Byzantine empires
Traditionally borrowed heavily from these two traditions
Seat of Orthodox Christianity
Emerging as an influential power
“Tsar:” caesar

3. Primary goals of Russian tsars during the early modern era
Territorial expansion
Consolidation/strengthening of tsarist rule
(understanding these goals allows us to make sense of seemingly contradictory approaches)

4. Need for Revival
Cultural
Economic

5. Social Classes and Government Goals
Many free peasants fell into great debt and were forced to become serfs on large estates.
The Russian Government encouraged this process to satisfy the nobility and to regulate the peasants at the same time.

6. Focus on military needs
To recruit soldiers, the tsars began to grant hereditary territories to military nobility.
This led to harsh conditions and strict control over its serfs.

7. Cossacks: Russian “cowboys?”

8. The status of serfs
They could be bought or sold, gambled away, and punished by their masters.
Whole villages could be sold to supply manufacturing labor.
This is in contrast to the rest of Europe, which was reducing serfdom in their countries.

9. Boyars Many conflicts with tsar forces over power.
Tsars killed or exiled boyars who were considered a potential threat

10. Romanov Dynasty
Would rule for next 300 years

11. Romanov Dynasty Expanded territory to borders of Ottoman empire.
Continued to consolidate power into a central government.
Those who did not follow the tsar’s policies were sent to Siberia.

12. Westernization
By the end of the 17th century, Russia had become one of the great land empires.
Peter I (the Great) ( ) initiated westernization. (video clip)

13. He modeled his military and navy on western examples.
Capital city was moved to St. Petersburg, to provide a “window on the West”

15. Versailles
Peterhof

16. Peterhof
Versailles

17. Peter tried to replicate many aspects of French absolutism.
His economic efforts led to a strong mining industry to create state run munitions and shipbuilding facilities.

18. Peter wanted to make Russia respectable in Western eyes.
Imported European artists and architects to Russia
Gave upper class women more rights.

19. Encouraged the upper class to wear Western clothes, men had to shave their beards - got rid of Mongol and some Russian customs.
The only problem with this enforced fashion is that it wasn't very suitable for the cold Russian weather. Russia nobles were used to wearing warm sheepskin robes so Peter's fashion decrees left many nobles freezing their behinds off.

20. Made ballet a Russian specialty and encouraged the upper class to learn French.

21. Peter created a secret police based on China’s model
This police force was in place in one form or another until the fall of communism.

22. Catherine the Great: Enlightened Despot?
The next powerful Russian leader ( )

23. (Catherine ctd.)
Continued strengthening the central monarchy and expanding Russian territory

24. Shared Peter’s interest in western culture
Encouraged the nobility to tour the West and to send their children to European schools
Able to make Russia a major player in European affairs by the time of her death

25. Opposed to revolutionary ideas ignited by the French Revolution (why does this make sense?)

26. Selective Westernization

27. *Pugachev’s rebellion (video clip)
Tsars strengthened the power of nobility over the serfs, even though it contradicted the Western ways.
(Why did they take this approach?)
*Pugachev’s rebellion (video clip)

28. Compare to Enlightenment thinker John Locke (Europe): "The end of law is, not to abolish or restrain, but to preserve and enlarge freedom."

29. Diverse empire versus individual European nation-states
Russia remained primarily agricultural, with little urbanization.
There was little artisan or merchant class in Russia.
Focus was on military rather than wider commercial goals